A zip line thrill ride system includes a cable suspended between a upper cable support tower and platform which, together, function as the harnessing, loading, and take-off point for the ride, and a lower cable support tower and platform which, together, function as the landing, unloading and unharnessing point of the ride. Multiple, substantially identical trolleys are designed to quickly engage and disengage the cable. The trolley includes a frame of generally I-beam cross section, a generally tubular brake retainer, having a longitudinal slit therein, is welded to an upper rear portion of the frame. A grooved, generally cylindrical brake fabricated from a durable polymeric material is rotatably affixed within the tubular brake retainer. When the trolley is affixed to the suspended cable by sliding the cable into the slit and rotating the brake, the grooved insert rides against the suspended cable and generates friction.
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15. A zip line transport system comprising:
upper and lower support towers; a cable suspended between said upper and lower support towers; at least one trolley comprising: a frame; a brake assembly affixed to a rear portion of said frame, said brake assembly having an abrasion-resistant brake with a longitudinal linear groove, through which the cable passes as the trolley moves along the cable, a bottom portion of said linear groove sliding against a lower surface of said cable; a pulley rotatably mounted to a middle portion of said frame, said pulley having a circumferential groove that rides on an upper surface of the cable; and a lever arm adjustment bracket positioned on a front portion of said frame, the rider mounting bracket being positionable fore and aft to adjust an amount of pressure between the bottom portion of the linear groove and the lower surface of said cable. 9. A zip line transport system comprising:
upper and lower support towers; a cable suspended between said upper and lower support towers; at least one trolley movable along the cable, said trolley comprising: a frame; a brake assembly affixed to a rear portion of said frame, said brake assembly having an abrasion-resistant brake with a longitudinal linear groove, through which the cable passes as the trolley moves along the cable, a bottom portion of said linear groove sliding against a lower surface of said cable; a pulley mounting bracket attached to and extending above a central portion of said frame; a pulley rotatably mounted to said pulley mounting bracket, said pulley having a circumferential groove that rides on an upper surface of the cable; and a lever arm adjustment bracket positioned on a front portion of said frame, the rider mounting bracket being positionable fore and aft to adjust an amount of pressure between the bottom portion of the linear groove and the lower surface of said cable. 1. A zip line transport system comprising:
upper and lower support towers; a cable suspended between said upper and lower support towers; at least one trolley comprising: a frame; a generally tubular brake retainer having a central axis and first and second open ends secured to a rear portion of the frame, said brake retainer having a primary longitudinal slit in a lateral portion thereof, said primary longitudinal slit extending from said first open end to said second open end; a generally cylindrical abrasion-resistant brake rotatably and concentrically installed within said tubular brake retainer, said brake having a linear longitudinal groove through which the cable passes as the trolley moves along the cable, a bottom portion of said linear groove sliding against a lower surface of said cable, said longitudinal groove being both centered about a plane passing through the central axis, and alignable with the primary longitudinal slit, said cable being insertable through said primary longitudinal slit and into the longitudinal groove, said cable being locked within said brake retainer by arcuate rotation of said brake; and a pulley rotatably mounted above a middle portion of said frame, said pulley having both a circumferential groove that rides on the upper surface of the cable, and an axis of rotation that is generally horizontal and perpendicular to the central axis, said pulley being spaced from said brake said brake retainer so that a gap at least equal to the diameter of the cable exists therebetween; and a lever arm adjustment bracket affixed to a front portion of said frame, said bracket being positionable fore and aft to adjust an amount of pressure between the bottom portion of the longitudinal groove and the lower surface of said cable. 2. The zip line transport system of
3. The zip line transport system of
4. The zip line transport system of
5. The zip line transport system of
6. The zip line transport system of
7. The zip line transport system of
a trap, having an internal ramp, that is slidably mounted on the cable near the lower cable support tower; and at least one coil spring assembly having a weighted bushing installed within each end thereof and concentrically installed on the cable between the trap and the lower support tower; and wherein said frame has a downwardly-slanted nose, on which is mounted a bumper made of a durable abrasion resistant material, said nose engaging the trap and being forced by the internal ramp to a lower level as the trolley travels down the cable and enters the trap, thereby increasing the pressure between the brake and the cable and, at the same time, transferring momentum to the trap and accelerating the weighted bushings and compressing the coil spring of said at least one coil spring assembly, as the trap slams into it.
8. The zip line transport system of
rotating the brake so that its longitudinal groove coincides with the slit of the tubular brake retainer; positioning the trolley so that the frame is below and oblique or perpendicular to the cable; elevating the trolley so that the cable enters the gap between the brake retainer and the pulley; aligning the body with the cable so that the cable enters the longitudinal slit in of the brake retainer and the longitudinal groove of the brake and the circumferential groove of the pulley is positioned directly above the cable; seating the circumferential groove of the pulley on the upper surface of the cable; and rotating the brake to lock the cable within the brake retainer.
10. The zip line transport system of
a longitudinal adjustment slot, to which said lever arm adjustment bracket is slidably affixed; a linear array of evenly-spaced apertures that is beneath and parallel to the longitudinal slot; and wherein said lever arm adjustment bracket is slidably affixed to the longitudinal adjustment slot and securable to any one of the apertures of the linear array with a removable locking pin.
11. The zip line transport system of
a generally tubular brake retainer having a central axis and first and second open ends secured to a rear portion of the frame, said brake retainer having a primary longitudinal slit in a lateral portion thereof, said primary longitudinal slit extending from said first open end to said second open end; and a generally cylindrical, abrasion-resistant brake rotatably and concentrically installed within said tubular brake retainer, said brake having a linear longitudinal groove through which the cable passes, said linear longitudinal groove being centered about a plane passing through the central axis, said longitudinal groove being also alignable with the primary longitudinal slit, said brake being fabricated from a durable, abrasion-resistant material, said brake being affixed within the tubular brake retainer and rotatable about the central axis; wherein said cable is positionable within the circumferential groove of said pulley below its axis of rotation and insertable through said primary longitudinal slit and into the longitudinal groove of the brake, said brake then being rotatable to lock said cable within said brake retainer.
12. The zip line transport system of
13. The zip line transport system of
14. The zip line transport system of
16. The zip line transport system of
17. The zip line transport system of
a generally tubular brake retainer having a central axis and first and second open ends secured to a rear portion of the frame, said brake retainer having a primary longitudinal slit in a lateral portion thereof, said primary longitudinal slit extending from said first open end to said second open end; wherein said brake is generally cylindrical in shape, is concentrically affixed within the tubular brake retainer, is rotatable about the central axis, and is fabricated from a durable, abrasion-resistant material; wherein said linear longitudinal groove is centered about a plane passing through the central axis, said longitudinal groove being alignable with the primary longitudinal slit; and wherein said cable is positionable within the circumferential groove of said pulley below its axis of rotation and insertable through said primary longitudinal slit and into the longitudinal groove of the brake, said cable being lockable within said brake retainer by rotating said brake.
18. The zip line transport system of
19. The zip line transport system of
20. The zip line transport system of
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This invention relates, generally, to suspended cable transport systems commonly known as zip lines and, more particularly, to trolleys for downhill zip line systems which are securely attached to the suspended cable and are designed to control maximum descent speed within a safe range.
Transport systems involving a trolley slidable along a suspended length of cable have been known in the art for many years. Commonly known as zip lines, such systems are extensively used for rescue work on ski lift equipment. They are also available as backyard toys for children and adults. Spring Swings, Inc. of Riviera Beach, Fla., manufactures a Fun Ride Deluxe Zip Line kit which can be installed between two trees or other suitable cable supports. The kit includes enough stranded steel aircraft cable for a ride of about 21 meters (70 feet) in length, cable tensioning devices, and a "super tough" double-pulley plastic trolley which travels bidirectionally on the suspended cable. The kit retails for less than $100.
Within the past decade, zip lines have become part of the "extreme sports" scene. One particular zip line installed on a hill in the Costa Rican jungle has been given rave reviews. The Costa Rican system is really quite primitive, having a trolley with a single deep-groove nylon pulley riding on the suspended cable. In order to slow his descent, a rider must twist the trolley, thereby causing the flanges of the pulley to rub against the cable and generate friction. Kinetic energy is, thus, dissipated as heat. Riders who are particularly heavy may generate so much friction and related heat that the trolley pulley may fail prematurely. Such a system is potentially dangerous, as the riders, themselves, must take responsibility for maintaining their descent speeds within a safe range, in order to avoid smashing into the lower cable support tower. In the absence of a legal system which demands that even the most risk-inclined, incompetent and moronic individuals be protected from themselves, such a zip line system might operate in perpetuity. However, in a country such as the U.S., the slip and fall plaintiffs' bar would kill it almost immediately.
Within the past year, a sophisticated, safe, and thoroughly-engineered zip line thrill ride was installed on a steep hill at Park City, Utah. The suspended cable is about 805 meters in length (0.5 mile), and the vertical drop is approximately 183 meters (600 feet). Although maximum speeds in excess of 90 m.p.h. are attainable on the system, the maximum speed experienced by paying riders is automatically limited by the equipment to no more than about 55 m.p.h. Certain components and features of this modern zip line system are the subjects of this patent.
The zip line thrill ride system that is the focus of this invention includes a cable suspended between a upper cable support tower and platform which, together, function as the harnessing, loading, and take-off point for the ride, and a lower cable support tower and platform which, together, function as the landing, unloading and unharnessing point of the ride. Multiple, substantially identical trolleys are designed to quickly engage and disengage the cable. A safety lock actuated by ride operator personnel at the loading point prevents the trolley from being removed from the cable until it is unlocked at the unloading point by ride operator personnel at the landing point. The trolley, the structural components of which are fabricated almost entirely from stainless steel, includes a frame of generally I-beam cross section fabricated from metal plate stock. A generally tubular brake retainer, having a longitudinal slit therein, is welded to an upper rear portion of the frame. A grooved, generally cylindrical brake fabricated from a durable polymeric material, such as Teflon®, nylon, or high-density polyethylene, high density polyethylene (HDPE) brake, is rotatably affixed within the tubular brake retainer. When the trolley is affixed to the suspended cable, the grooved insert rides against the suspended cable and functions as a brake. A clevis/handle assembly is bolted to a central portion of the frame. A pulley is rotatably mounted within the clevis. The clevis bracket of the clevis/handle assembly is positioned so that a lower portion of the pulley is exposed.
In order to attach the trolley to the suspended cable, the brake is rotated so that its groove coincides with the slit of the tubular brake retainer. The trolley is then positioned below and oblique or perpendicular to the suspended cable. The trolley is then elevated so that the cable enters the gap between the brake retainer and the clevis/handle assembly. Once the cable is positioned below the level of the pulley flanges, the trolley is rotated so that the cable enters the slit of the brake retainer and the groove of the brake and the pulley is positioned over the cable. The trolley is then lowered to seat the pulley on the cable. The brake is then rotated so that the groove therein faces upward, thereby locking the suspended cable within the tubular brake retainer.
The frame also includes a longitudinal slot forward of the clevis/handle assembly mounting point that is generally parallel to the axis of the tubular brake retainer. The frame also includes a linear array of evenly-spaced apertures that is beneath and parallel to the longitudinal slot. A lever arm adjustment bracket is attached to the frame with a retainer pin that passes through both arms of the U-shaped suspension bracket, allowing the lever arm adjustment bracket to be moved back and forth within the longitudinal slot. The suspension bracket has a pair of locking apertures, which are alignable with any of the apertures in the linear array. The lever arm adjustment bracket may be locked in place by inserting a locking pin through the pair of locking apertures and through one of the apertures in the linear array. The farther forward the lever arm adjustment bracket is located, the greater the pressure applied by the brake to the suspension cable. The position of the lever arm adjustment bracket is selected in accordance with the weight of the rider and the maximum desired speed of the ride. Thus, for any rider, the closer the lever arm adjustment bracket is to the handle/clevis assembly, the greater the maximum speed. Conversely, the farther the lever arm adjustment bracket is from the handle/clevis assembly, the slower the maximum speed.
The nose of the frame is downwardly slanted and has mounted thereon a bumper made of a durable polymeric material such as Teflon®, nylon, or high-density polyethylene. At the end of the ride, the nose engages a V-shaped trap that is slidable on the suspended cable against one or more unloaded coil springs that are concentrically installed on weighted bushings on the suspended cable. As the nose of the frame engages the V-shaped trap, it is pushed down, thereby increasing the pressure between the brake and the suspended cable and, at the same time, accelerating the weighted bushings and compressing the coil springs. These features ensure that even if the pressure of the brake against the suspended cable is not properly adjusted before the ride begins, the rider will stop safely before reaching the end of the suspended cable.
The zip line thrill ride system will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawing figures. It is to be understood that the drawing figures are meant to be only illustrative, that they are not necessarily drawn to scale, and that some details, which would be obvious to those of ordinary skill in the art, may have been omitted in the interest of simplification and brevity.
Referring now to
Referring now to
Referring now to
Referring now to
Referring now to
Referring now specifically to
Referring now specifically to
Referring now to
In order to attach the trolley 105 to the suspended cable 104, the brake 706 is rotated so that its longitudinal groove 707 coincides with the longitudinal slit 704 of the tubular brake retainer 703. The trolley 105 is then positioned below and oblique or perpendicular to the suspended cable 104. The trolley 105 is then elevated so that the suspended cable 104 enters a gap 715 between the tubular brake retainer 703 and the clevis/handle assembly 710. Once the suspended cable 104 is positioned below the pulley 712, the trolley 105 is rotated in a horizontal plane so that the cable 104 enters the longitudinal slit 704 of the tubular brake retainer 703 and the longitudinal groove 707 of the brake 706 and the pulley 712 is positioned over the suspended cable 104. The trolley 105 is then lowered to seat the pulley 712 on the cable 104. The brake 706 is then rotated so that its longitudinal groove 707 faces upward, thereby locking the suspended cable 104 within the tubular brake retainer 703.
The frame 701 also includes a longitudinal slot 716, forward of the clevis/handle assembly 710, that is generally parallel to the axis 717 of the tubular brake retainer 703. The frame 701 also includes a linear array of evenly-spaced apertures 718 that is beneath and parallel to the longitudinal slot 716. A lever arm adjustment bracket 719 is permanently attached to the frame 701 with a retainer pin 720 that passes from one side of the lever arm adjustment bracket 719 to the other, and through the longitudinal slot 716, thereby allowing the lever arm adjustment bracket 719 to be adjustably moved back and forth within the longitudinal slot 716. The lever arm adjustment bracket 719 also has a pair of locking apertures 721 below the retainer pin 720, which are alignable with any of the evenly-spaced apertures 718 of the linear array. The lever arm adjustment bracket 719 may be locked in place by inserting a removable locking pin 722 through the pair of locking apertures 721 and through one of the evenly-spaced apertures 718 in the linear array. For a given rider load on the lever arm adjustment bracket 719, the farther forward the lever arm adjustment bracket 719 is located, the greater the pressure applied by the brake 706 to the suspended cable 104. The position of the lever arm adjustment bracket 719 is selected in accordance with the weight of the rider and the maximum desired speed of the ride. Thus, for any rider, the closer the lever arm adjustment bracket is to the handle/clevis assembly 710, the greater the maximum speed attained by a rider 205. Conversely, the farther the lever arm adjustment bracket 719 is from the handle/clevis assembly 710, the slower the maximum speed. A rider suspension bracket 723 is coupled to the lever arm adjustment bracket 719. The frame 701 has a downwardly slanted nose 724 on which is mounted a bumper 725 made of a durable polymeric material such as Teflon®, nylon, or high-density polyethylene (HDPE).
Referring now to
Referring now to
Although only several embodiments of the improved downhill zip line thrill ride system have been heretofore described, it will be obvious to those having ordinary skill in the art that changes and modifications may be made thereto without departing from the scope and the spirit of the invention as hereinafter claimed.
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